Dear Family and Friends,
It’s hot. Summer is upon us and the battle against steam and sogginess is now a daily thing. We are grateful for the air conditioning in our apartment and in the church building. But sometimes the journey between the two buildings turns into a sticky, sweaty mess. We’re told the rainy season should end soon and the humidity should drop a little.
Still, we continue to love our mission and do our best every day.
President and Sister Tueller
We have new mission leaders and we love them! President and Sister Tueller feel like friends we’ve known all our lives. They are so kind and loving. And so wise. Everyone in the mission has instantly fallen in love with them.
We’ve done our best to help them get settled in and situated. Because of that, we’ve spent a few extra days in the new office these past two weeks and that’s been a lot of fun. We’ve set up their new phones, gone shopping for food with them, and Sister Low helped get them registered at city hall, which took a bit of work. We look forward to working with them more in the coming months.
Here’s a review of the last week:
Family Home Evening
We had about 35 YSA show up for Family Home Evening on Monday night. We played board games and Elder Low made his classic tortilla soup for the first time in Japan. The kids went into a frenzy. A mob attacked the pot of soup for seconds, thirds, fourths, finally licking the bottom of the pot. We could hardly fend them off. It’s so fun to see them light up when eating a good home cooked meal.
Afterward we studied this week’s lesson in Come, Follow Me and read the Book of Mormon together. What a joy.
After it was over and we were walking home, Elder Low told Sister Low that the only thing wrong with the meeting was that we should have had more people attending. So we’re going to work on that.
Institute Classes
On Thursday night’s online institute class we studied the life of Joseph Smith as part of our study of the Restoration of the Gospel. We talked about following his example when the Lord asks us to do hard things, or things we may feel we’re not capable of doing.
“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments, which you have made; for unto this end have I raised you up, that I might show forth my wisdom through the weak things of the earth.”
– Doctrine & Covenants 124:1
We feel similarly. There have been many times on this mission that we have felt weak and inadequate. We’ve fumbled and mumbled many times. Still, somehow, we manage to get some things done in spite of our weakness and for that we are grateful.
For Friday night’s institute class we had about 50 young people show up. This week we learned and talked about the people of Anti Nephi Lehi. Sister Low started the class by asking, “Can somebody really change for the better? Is it really possible?” Then we read the answers to those questions in Alma 23 & 24.
Then we talked about the best way to find real, increased joy in life – and that’s by sharing the Gospel with others. We used Ammon and his brothers as examples and read together what they said and how they felt.
At the end of class, Elder Low taught that yes, people really can change. He used Sister Low as an example. Years ago, Elder Low met her before she became a convert and he testified that she is a “new creature” compared to before – and that everything about her is different. Not only has her heart changed, but everything else – the way she walks, talks, looks at things – everything about her is different. She is changed and that is a miracle.
Of course, Sister Low could only stand there and smile while he spoke, and that was a little awkward, but it got the point across. It wound up being an emotional moment for both of us.
Afterwards, we ate mango pudding, cream puffs, eclairs, and mitarashi dango together. The kids stayed and ate and laughed and talked until late into the night. It was so fun to watch.
Returning Missionaries
Yesterday we said goodbye to seven of our best missionaries as it was time for them to return home. President Tueller was very busy, so he asked us to escort five of them to the airport and make sure they safely got on their respective flights. Some of these missionaries were with us in Shibuya when we first arrived on our mission. Others have served with us in the office as they were assistants to the president. All of them are incredible people and fantastic missionaries. It was an honor to watch them smile and walk through security to their gate, on their way home. Well done, Elders and Sisters. We will miss them.
Events like that make us realize: things change fast on a mission. Time flies. We need to make the best of it; take advantage of the short time we have to serve. Sometimes it still feels like we’re new here, trying to figure out how everything works. But if we’re not careful, time will slip by before we realize it.
And there is so much more to be done, so we’ll try our best. We appreciate your prayers on our behalf. Please know that we miss you all and love you.
Dear grandchildren – We miss you! Don’t forget to pray for your missionary grandma and grandpa.
Love,
Elder and Sister Low
Elder & Sister Low 